Adding-machine.



B. K. FISHER.

ADDING MAcHlNE.

APPLICATION FILED IAR. I6. 1915.

1.220,73?. I Patented Mur. 27, 1917.

lUNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

BENJAMIN K. FISHER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ADDING-MACHINE.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN K. FISHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adding-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to adding machines of that type wherein a base-board is provided with a series of numbers to beadded and has rotatably mounted relatively thereto a second board, preferably in the form of a disk, bearing a series of numbers indicative of the totals or sums resulting from the addition of selected numbers of the series of the base-board. f

In carrying out my invention it is my purpose to provide a device of this character through the medium of which the arithmetical process of addition may be easily, rapidly and accurately accomplished.

Another vobject of the invention is to provide a device by means of which extended series of numbers may be added or totaled,

one column at a time, provision being made for carrying a number from one column to the next, as is usual in the process of addition.

It is also my purpose to provide an adding machine which will embody theV ldesired features of simplicity, efficiency and convenience, and which, having but comparatively few parts, may be manufactured and marketed at relativelylow cost.

With the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in view, my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an adding machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken therethrough on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the indicator slide. f

Specification of Letters'latent.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

Apiuication filed March 1e, V1915. serial No. 14,701.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Before entering into adetail description of my invention, I will briefly state that in the present instance it embraces among otherrfeatures, a base-board upon which is rotatably mounted a travelingdial or disk. The base-board is provided with a segmental column of numbers, in the present instance, running from l to 27, although I wish it to be understood that the series of numbers in this column may be increased or decreased as desired, depending of course upon the size of the board. This column for the sake of convenience will hereinafter be termed the unit column and it contains the numbers to be added. The upper surface of the rotary disk is marked with a numeral bearing dial, and the numeralsthereon are to indicate the sums or totals obtained by adding the numerals or figures of the unit column, the total numerals being arranged in circular, concentric columns, with the column of numbers adjacent the center of the disk starting with zero and'ending with 44, and the adjacent column starting with the numeral 45 and ending with the numeral 92, while the third column from the center of the disk begins with the numeral 93 and ends with the numeral 140. This method of marking the numeralsin the columns continues throughout the entire scale. Of course theA extent of the series of numbers in each column depends upon the dimensions or size of the circular space in which they are arranged, as it will be readily understood that as many numbers as may be con- 'venient may be contained in each column.

figures exceed the largest number marked in a column above which the pointer of the indicator slide lies at the time of the adding operation, such slide is shifted or moved to the next outward column by means of a member carried by the revolving disk as will hereinafter appear.

Referring now to the ac-companying drawings in detail, A indicates the base-board of the machine, which may be of any suitable material such as pasteboard, cardboard, wood or metal. Preferably here the baseboard is made 0f stiff pasteboard having a top face or covering of thin sheet metal. Extending upward from the base-board is a stop B, and in the present instance this stop is preferably formed by striking up the metal which constitutes the top covering of the board. The top surface of the board is marked with a relatively large segmental strip C which is preferably made by painting with a different color from the top surface of the board. This strip forms a segmental column in which I mark a series of numerals, in the present instance, running consecutively from 1 to 27, the numeral 1 being arranged nearest the stop, while the numeral 27 is at the opposite end of the column as will be readily understood by referring to F ig. 1. This series of numerals is indicated by the letter C', and the numbers thereof constitute the numbers to be added, one at a time, and therefore I have termed this the unit column. The letter D indicates a rotatable disk which is preferably made of metal and is mounted to turn upon the pivot stud E extending upward from the center of the baseboard and through the center of the disk, a small washer F surrounding the stud and bearing against the central portion of the top face of the disk. A spacing sleeve G is then threaded on the shank of the stud and forms a support for the inner end of the indicator slide-bar H which is perforated to permit the passage of the upper end of the stud, a small nut J being threaded onto the end of the stud to hold the slide-bar in place. This slide-bar extends across the top of the disk and has its downturned end K fastened to the baseboard adjacent one corner thereof by means of the screw L and the nut M. The slidebar is thus elevated above the disk so that the latter may revolve freely therebeneath, and this bar is preferably formed of metal, such as a strip of brass. Shiftable longitudinally of this bar H is an indicator slide N which is preferably formed of a single blank of metal cut to provide spaced lugs n at the longitudinal side edges of the slide, the body of the strip constituting the slide resting against the under face of the bar H, while the lugs are bent around the side edges of the bar and inward upon the top of such bar, thereby holding the slide to the bar while permitting such slide to be readily shifted. The blank is further cut and bent to provide the indicating linger or pointer P, while a series of spaced tongues Q inclined transversely relative to the body of the slide are provided thereon for the purpose hereinafter mentioned. These tongues are parallel to each other and are so arranged that one tongue lies above each circular column of figures or numerals, upon the dial. The top face of the rotary disk is marked with a circular dial R divided in the present instance, into concentric spaces or columns S, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6 and S7. The innermost column S is provided with a series of numerals running consecutively from Zero to 44E; the column S1 has numerals running from 45 to 92; the column S2 has numerals running from 93 to 140; the column S3 has numerals running from 141 to 188; the column S4 has numerals running from 189 to 236; the column S5 has numerals running from 237 to 284; the column SG has numerals running from 285 to 332; and the column S7 has numerals running from 333 to 380, while the outermost or segmental column Ss has numerals running from 381 to 100. Thus, I provide suficient numerals on the present machine to provide any total for a single column of figures which will not exceed 400, but it will of course be understood that the numbers or figures for the totals may be increased or decreased as desired.

Arranged adjacent the periphery of the numeral dial R of the rotary disk is a circular column T having a series of consecutive numbers running from zero to 40 marked thereon and the numbers in this column are employed for the operation of carrying a number from one column of figures to another as is common in the process of addition. Extending upward from the rotary disk adjacent the periphery thereof are small lips U, these lips being spaced apart and arranged in a circular series, one lip being opposite each of the radial lines of figures on the dial. It is to be understood that these lips form finger grips for enabling the rotary disk to be turned and these lips are preferably struck up from the material of the disk. Mounted upon the rotary disk, but outside of the columns of numerals thereon is a slide shifting strip W which extends at an angle to the circular numeral dial, and the purpose of this strip is to shift the slide from one concentric column of numerals to the next outward column when the necessity arises, as will hereinafter appear.

In order to make clear the operation of my device, I will give a concrete example in addition.

Assuming for instance, it be desired to add three columns of figures as follows:

The disk is first turned until the zero indication in the column T is directly beneath the pointer or finger of the indicator slide, the slide at this time being moved inward toward the center of the disk on its bar as far as possible. This will bring the zero number in the carrying column T directly beneath the stop B on the base-board. As we first add the unit column of the sum or that to the right, following the usual practice, the operator now places his finger in the space between the two lips opposite the numbers 7 and 8 of the carrying column T, this space being directly opposite the numeral 7 in the unit column, and pulls the rotary disk around until his finger strikes the stop. He then places his finger in the space between the two lips opposite the numeral 5 of the unit column and repeats the operation of bringing the disk around until his nger strikes the stop. He proceeds with the same operation through the remaining numerals, in the first or unit column of the sum. Now it will be noted that when all the numerals in the first or unit column of the sum given have been added, they total 46 and when the adding of this column has been completed on the machine the pointer or finger of the indicator slide will point to 46 on the numeral dial having the sums or totals marked thereon, this number 46 appearing in the column S1. The slide has moved outward from the column S to the column Sl because after the numeral 44 or the highest figure in the column S was reached, the rotation of the disk to this point had brought the slide-moving strip W into contact with one of the tongues depending from the slide and the continued rotation of thedial had forced this strip into engagement with the tongue and the strip in passing the tongue shifted the slide outward one step or column from the column S into the column S1. The machine having shown that the total of the unit column is 46, the operator writes this sum down on a piece of paper and draws a line through the digit 4 as this is the number to be carried. He now turns the disk so that the numeral 4 of the carrying column is in line with the stop. The slide is now moved back so indicator is over the column S again and the operation of adding the second column proceeds as before. It will be seen that the total of the second column will be 52 and the operator places this on the paper as follows:

The digit 5 is of course to be carried and this is done as before. The third column is now added and totals 60 and this is placed on the paper as follows:

4 6----001. 1 5 2 Co1.2 6 0 Col. 3

6 0 2 6--, Total The result is a total 6026 in the operation of the machine.

It will be understood that much time can be saved by taking groups of figures, thus l, 3 and 4 can be added as 8, or 6-7-5 as 18.

One important advantage of the invention is that when two or more numbers have been added together, the pointer of the indicator slide will always point to a single number reading the exact total of the numbers added. In other words, it is unnecessary to refer to two or more numbers or to shift from one point on the dial to another to ascertain the total, as a single number always represents such totaled or added sum.

lVhile I have herein shown and described one particular embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to all the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration, as modification and variation may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

Vhat I claim is:

l. The combination of a base having a column marked with numerals to be added, a rotary disk mounted on the base and having a column marked with numerals to be carried and further having a scale dial thereon divided into concentric columns, each column having a series of consecutive total numbers marked thereon, the corresponding numerals of the various columns being disposed in rows in line with respective numerals to be carried, and a circular row of upstanding lips fixed to the disk adjacent the periphery thereof and disposed respectively in line with the rows and the numerals to be carried.

in index slide 'or disk adding` ma- @laines formed from a metal blank having a plurality of pairs of' opposite lateral arms bent inwardly to embrace a supporting` bar and lurtlier having a plurality of downwardly directed tongues struck therefrom, and a total indicating` pointer on the slide.

3. rElie combination of a base having a column marked with numerals to be added, a rotary disk mounted on the base and having a column marked with numerals to be carried and further having a scale dial thereon divided into concentric columns, each column having a series of consecutive total numbers marked thereon, the corresponding numerals of the various columns being disposed in rows in line with respective numerals to be carried, a circular row of upstanding lips iiXed to the disk adjacent the periphery thereof and disposed respectively in line with the rows and the numerals to be carried, an indicator slide mounted above and shiftable over the scale, and means carried by the disk for shitting the slide from one column of numerals on the scale to an adjacent column of numerals.

ln testimony whereof, l my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMEN K. lTlSHER. l/Vitnesses F. E. l/Vi-xrnwmerrr, GUY A. KNIGHT.

Copies ci this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

CII 

